Sustainable

Plastics Strategy

suschem.org
Contributing partners:

SusChem
Cefic
PlasticsEurope
EuPC
ECP4
 Sustainable
Plastic Strategy

Edition 2, December 2020

Content 4
Sustainable Recycling 28

1 1. P
 lastic stream preparation
(waste pre-treatment) 28

2. Plastic waste preparation 29

Introduction 7 3. Sorting and separation 29

2 3.1. Improve sorting 31
3.2. Improve separation 32

Methodology 11 4. Recycling technologies 34

4.1. C
 hemical recycling of plastics
waste by pyrolysis 36
3 4.2. C
 hemical recycling of plastic
waste by gasification 37
4.3. C
 hemical recycling of plastics
Sustainable-by-Design 16 waste by depolymerization/solvolysis 38

1. Material design 1 6 4.4. R

 ecycling by dissolution of
multi-polymer systems 38
1.1. Extend lifetime 16
1.2. Material usage vs 4.5. Mechanical recycling 39
performance 19
5. Post-processing 40
1.3. Increase recyclability 19
1.4. Biodegradation 21
1.5. Addressing micro 5
and nano-plastics 22

2. Article Design 24
Alternative Feedstock 43
2.1. Design for dismantling 24
1. A
 gricultural and forest
2.2. Decrease material usage 24
biomass waste based raw
2.3. M
 onolayer pouch and
in-mold labelling 25 materials 43

2.4. R
 efillable and recyclable 2. CO2/CO-based 44
PET bottles 26

Glossary 49

About the partners 50

About Suschem 51
6 • SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY
Introduction
Plastic waste is ending up in the environment,
and unmanaged, is amongst the greatest
global environmental challenges of our time12.
As an industry, we believe plastic waste in the
environment is unacceptable and represents a
massive loss of a valuable resource.
One of the keys to tackling plastic waste is the
creation of a circular economy. In contrast to
the make, use, then dispose, of linear economy;
in a circular economy we keep resources in use
for as long as possible, extract the maximum
value from them whilst in use, then recover
and regenerate products and materials at the
end of their life. The circular economy is about
recognising and capturing the value of plastics
as a resource, with the least impact on the
climate. We have over recent years accelerated
the transition to a circular economy, amongst
other actions.
However, the circular economy for plastics is not
just about waste. Whilst eliminating leakage
and the increased use of secondary materials
is one part of the picture, the transition to
renewable feedstock completes this picture.
Long-term, plastics production should also
decouple from fossil feedstock. This means using
more renewable energy and more alternative
feedstock from waste and renewable resources
and investing in carbon capture solutions.
Much of the plastic in use today can already
be recycled in some way, but according to an
analysis by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation,
roughly one-third of the world’s plastic
packaging waste is lost in the environment. In
comparison, about 14% is collected for recycling,
and 40% is disposed of in landfill. The remaining
14% is incinerated, sometimes with energy-
from-waste recovery. In view of this, chemical
technologies are needed to improve the
labelling, identification and separation of waste
plastics and composites into single-component
polymers. These polymers should be reprocessed
for reuse in new products and/or fully recycled as
1 https://science.sciencemag.org/content/360/6384/28.full
2 https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.9b02900
feedstock for pure polymers by using chemical
recycling.
We need a holistic approach to plastic waste
based on a measurable science-based
framework that aims at preventing waste,
enabling consumer awareness, and
implementing eco-design-based solutions
towards a circular economy. To achieve this, we
need to continue to harness the power of
research and innovation to address the
reduction, reuse and recycling. This is
envisioned by the authors of this report to make
circularity and resource efficiency a reality for
plastics.
Versatile and durable, plastics are a remarkable
material. They allow us to meet a myriad of
functional and aesthetic demands, whether this
is drinking clean water, playing sport, staying
connected, enjoying the comfort of home,
visiting loved ones near and far, or helping us
to live longer and healthier lives. Plastics have
become a key part of our society, defining the
way we live today, improving the quality of life
for millions of people in Europe and across the
globe. They make our lives easier, safer, and
more mobile, while significantly increasing
energy efficiency and lowering CO2 emissions.
The European Green Deal3 aims to make
the EU’s economy sustainable by turning
climate and environmental challenges into
opportunities and making the transition just
and inclusive for all. The European Green
Deal action plan will boost the efficient use
of resources by moving to a clean, circular
economy, restore biodiversity and cut pollution.
The EU aims to be climate neutral in 2050 and
this objective will require action by all sectors
of the economy to invest in environmentally
friendly technologies, support industry
to innovate, roll out cleaner, cheaper and
healthier forms of private and public transport,
decarbonise the energy sector, ensuring
buildings are more energy efficient and
3 https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-
an-green-deal_en
SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY • 7
improving global environmental standards.
Plastic is an essential material to ensure a
sustainable future and has a vital role to play in
helping Europe achieve its Green Deal ambitions.
As an industry we are committed to increasing
circularity and resource efficiency through our
voluntary commitments launched in 20184,5.
Innovation as a global framework will play a key
role together with ongoing cooperation along the
whole plastic value chain. The complexity of this
value chain (made up of producers of plastics and
chemical raw materials, converters, brand-owners,
retailers, actors of waste management...) makes
the creation of innovation ecosystems necessary
to tackle the sustainability challenge. To achieve
this, we need to continue to harness the power of
research and innovation to significantly increase
reuse and recycling. In doing so, plastics will
accelerate their contribution to the European
Green Deal objectives of reduced greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions and resource efficiency.
Developing high-quality and high-performance
products and solutions that are sustainable can
be highly complex and challenging. It requires
innovative technologies and some of the best
scientists, engineers and most innovative minds,
and has been the bedrock of the leaders of
our industry for over a century. We believe our
industry has an essential role to play in making
plastics more sustainable. Developing the
necessary levers requires a concerted effort by
everybody who can contribute.
The European Commission launched the Circular
Plastics Alliance (CPA)6 in December 2018 to
4 The European Plastics Industry Circular Economy Voluntary Commit-
ments (PETCORE, VINYLPLUS, ECRA and PCEP)
5 Plastics 2030, PlasticsEurope’s Voluntary Commitment to increasing
circularity and resource efficiency (PLASTICSEUROPE)
6 https://ec.europa.eu/growth/industry/policy/circular-plastics-alliance_en
8 • SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY
help plastic value chains boost the EU market
for recycled plastics to 10 million tonnes by
2025 under the European Strategy for Plastics
in a circular economy (2018)7. The CPA initiative
is based on voluntary pledges by industry8. In
September 2020 more than 200 organisations
are signatories of the CPA.
EuPC, EPC4, PlasticsEurope and a number of
the SusChem platform participants are proud
to be actively involved members of the CPA
contributing in the five main value chains or
plastics-using sectors, namely: packaging,
automotive, construction, agriculture and
electronic and electrical equipment (“EEE”).
R&D needs have been identified across the five
main CPA value chains (packaging, automotive,
construction, agriculture and electronic
and electrical equipment (“EEE”). The CPA
commitment embraces R&D9 and Investments
including chemical recycling, Design for
recycling, Collection and sorting, Recycled
content, Monitoring and Governance.
To achieve overall increased sustainability based
on full life cycle thinking, it is important to:
Innovate advanced recycling and sorting
technologies to increase the value retrieved from
plastic waste,
• O
 ptimise and redesign value chains for
optimal value (retention): from sorting to
renewed raw materials,
• S
 ecure feedstock quality with the application
of testing technologies to meet purity and
quality requirements,
7 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1516265440535&uri=
COM:2018:28:FIN
8 https://ec.europa.eu/growth/industry/policy/circular-plastics-alliance/
commitments-and-deliverables_en
9 https://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents/43693
• Incorporate alternative feedstocks in the
production of plastics: waste or by-products
from other sectors and processes, such as
biological feedstock from the agricultural
industry, carbon-based feedstock from
the chemical industry and chemical and
secondary plastics from the plastic industry,
outlines the future research needed to fulfil
the objectives of the European Strategy for
Plastics and the Green Deal priorities, where
the technology solutions described are part
of an integral approach to render plastics
more sustainable.

• D
 esign materials with enhanced separation
and recycling properties,

• D
 esign articles/products and business
models that facilitate and encourage reuse,

• D
 evelop repair solutions that extend the
lifetime of plastic articles,

• D
 evelop technologies for the characterisation
of “recycled” or “bio-based” (drop in)
feedstock,

• S
 et a comprehensive methodology to
evaluate the environmental impact of each
product to enable reliable benchmarking of
different approaches,

• D
 evelop methodology to calculate
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
parameters for standard and renewable
approaches on feedstock and durability,
to make a comparable evaluation for
investment decisions over the short, middle
and long term.

• F
 urther research actions are required to
take advantage of these ecosystems to
make plastics more sustainable. This report
presents a shared vision and demonstrates
how collaboration within the plastic value
chain can be a driving force for change. It

SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY • 9

10 • SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY
Methodology

The “Plastics Strategic Research and Innovation Thus, this document was elaborated based on
Agenda in a Circular Economy”10 was published input from numerous experts of the plastics
in 2018 and since then, several relevant initiatives value chain, involved in the European Technology
have been set up (Circular Economy Action Plan, Platform for Sustainable Chemistry - SusChem,
Circular Plastics Alliance, Horizon Europe Green the European Composites, Plastics and Polymer
Deal, etc.) The Plastics SIRA was conceived as a Processing Platform – ECP4 , European Plastics
living document to be updated to address the Converters – EuPC, and PlasticsEurope.
current situation and R&I needs in the plastic
sector and include new items if needed. All
previously involved partners (SusChem, Plastics
Europe, EuPC, ECP4) provided their input with
the aim to compile the current document
“Sustainable Plastics Strategy”.

10 http://www.suschem.org/files/library/Final_Brochure_Plastic_strate-
gy_digital.pdf

SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY • 11

The research and innovation priorities defined by the European Circular Plastic Alliance initiative
are presented in the following tables 2 and 3 with their correspondence to the respective R&D area
described in this document.

Table 1: Polymer types and value chains considered

Polymer types Value chains

Fossil-based Bio-based

PU/PUR PLA Packaging

PS, PS-E, PS-EI Starch-based Building & Construction

PE, PE-LD, PE-LLD, PE-HD, PE-MD PHA/PHB Automotive

ABS-SAN TPS Electrical & Electronics

ABS-HIPS PEF Household, Leisure & Sports

PET PBS/PBSA Agriculture

PP PT Medical

PA Bio-PET Healthcare

PVC Bio-PE Textile

PMMA Bio-PP

PBT Bio-PA

POM Bio-PUR

PTFE

DCPD CO2 /CO-based

PC PPC

PU
Fibre Reinforced Polymer
PC
(FRP) matrices
Epoxy PEC

PU PE

12 • SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY

Table 2: CPA Strategic R&I needs common to 3 or more industrial sectors

CORRESPONDANCE WITH SUSCHEM/

RELEVANT TO
CPA R&I PRIORITY PLASTICS EUROPE/EPC4/EUPC CHAPTER
INDUSTRIAL SECTOR
and priority

Chemical and physical Packaging, Sustainable by Recycling:

recycling process automotive, 4.1 Chemical recycling of plastic waste by pyrolysis
development construction, 4.2 Chemical recycling of plastic waste by
agriculture and EEE gasification
4.3 Chemical recycling of plastic waste by
depolymerization/solvolysis
4.4 Recycling by dissolution of multi-polymer
systems
4.5 Mechanical recycling

Chemical and Packaging, Sustainable by Recycling:

physical recycling automotive, 3. Sorting and separation
purification/separation construction,
technologies agriculture and EEE

Polymer chain Packaging, Sustainable by Recycling:

recycling stability automotive, 1. Plastic stream preparation (waste pre-
construction, treatment)
agriculture and EEE 2 Plastic waste preparation

Quality control Packaging, Sustainable by Recycling:

and consistency of automotive, 3.2 Improve separation
recyclate construction,
agriculture and EEE

Develop and Packaging, Sustainable-by-Design:

standardise methods automotive, 1.5 Addressing micro and nano-plastics
for traceability construction,
agriculture and EEE Sustainable by Recycling:
1. Plastic stream preparation (waste pre-
treatment)
2. Plastic waste preparation
3. Sorting and separation

Improved recycled Packaging, Sustainable-by-Design:

materials properties automotive, 1.1 Extend lifetime
construction, 1.3 Increase recyclability
agriculture and EEE 1.4 Biodegradation

Better separation of Packaging, Sustainable-by-Design:

different plastics automotive, 1.3 Increase recyclability
construction, 1.4 Biodegradation
agriculture and EEE Sustainable by Recycling:
1. Plastic stream preparation (waste pre-
treatment)
3. Sorting and separation

Detect and separate Packaging, Sustainable by Recycling:

substances in waste automotive, 1. Plastic stream preparation (waste pre-
construction, treatment)
agriculture and EEE 2. Plastic waste preparation
3. Sorting and separation

SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY • 13

Table 3: CPA Specific R&I needs common to 2 or less industrial sectors

RELEVANT TO CORRESPONDANCE WITH SUSCHEM/

CPA R&I PRIORITY INDUSTRIAL PLASTICS EUROPE/EPC4/EUPC research
SECTOR priority

Recyclable biobased polymers Agriculture Sustainable-by-Design:

1.3 Increase recyclability
1.4 Biodegradation

Alternative Feedstock:
1. Agriculture and forest biomass waste raw
materials

Resistance to sun and crop Agriculture Sustainable-by-Design:

input 1.1 Extend lifetime
1.3 Increase recyclability
1.4 Biodegradation
2.1 Design for dismantling
2.2 Decrease material usage

Collection schemes Agriculture Sustainable-by-Design:

2.1 Design for dismantling
2.2 Decrease material usage

Sustainable by Recycling:
1. Plastic stream preparation (waste pre-
treatment)
2. Plastic waste preparation
3. Sorting and separation

Waste preparation and pre- Agriculture Sustainable by Recycling:

treatment 1. Plastic stream preparation (waste pre-
treatment)
2. Plastic waste preparation

Biodegradability in soil Agriculture Sustainable-by-Design:

1.3 Increase recyclability
1.4 Biodegradation

Plastic separation Automotive Sustainable by Recycling:

and EEE 1. Plastic stream preparation (waste pre-
treatment)
2. Plastic waste preparation
3. Sorting and separation

Using recyclates in a middle Construction Sustainable-by-Design:

layer 1.3 Increase recyclability
2.1 Design for dismantling

Pre-cleaning of waste Construction Sustainable by Recycling:

1. Plastic stream preparation (waste pre-
treatment)
2. Plastic waste preparation
3. Sorting and separation

14 • SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY

 RELEVANT TO CORRESPONDANCE WITH SUSCHEM/
CPA R&I PRIORITY INDUSTRIAL PLASTICS EUROPE/EPC4/EUPC research
SECTOR priority

Understanding of kind of Construction Sustainable-by-Design:

products could use recycled 1.3 Increase recyclability
materials (design FROM 2.1 Design for dismantling
recycling) 2.2 Decrease material usage

R&I for packaging and electrical Packaging Sustainable-by-Design:

and electronic equipment > and EEE 1.2 Material usage vs. performance
FOOD CONTACT

Sensor and detection Packaging Sustainable by Recycling:

technologies and EEE 3. Sorting and separation

Post-consumer plastic waste Packaging Sustainable-by-Design:

recycling technologies meeting and EEE 1.3 Increase recyclability
food contact qualification 2.1 Design for dismantling
2.3 Monolayer pouch and inmold labelling
2.4 Refillable and recyclable PET bottles

Delamination technologies Packaging Sustainable-by-Design:

1.3 Increase recyclability
2.1 Design for dismantling
2.3 Monolayer pouch and inmold labelling

Sustainable by Recycling:
1. Plastic stream preparation (waste pre-
treatment)

SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY • 15

Sustainable-by-Design
The Sustainable-by-Design concept aims to
integrate safety, circularity and functionality
of materials and products. It embraces the
economic, environmental and social pillars
of sustainability while maximising the
opportunities offered by the materials and
chemicals industries. Sustainable-by-Design calls
for an innovative systemic approach throughout
the full material cycle, from design to end of
life. Industrial relevance, societal empowerment
and regulatory preparedness are essential to the
successful implementation of the Sustainable-
by-Design concept as also recently addressed by
the European Commission.11
The key components of Sustainable-by-Design
plastics embrace safe by design concepts
(i.e. plastics free from hazardous chemicals,
addressing micro and nano-plastics), circular
and resource efficient materials (i.e. durable,
re-usable and recyclable; easy to dismantle and
with the use of alternative resources including
plastic waste and biomass). Sustainable-
by-Design plastics need to offer adequate
performance and functionalities (i.e. lightweight,
mechanical strength) while also enable their
sustainable production at industrial scale
and drive the opening of new markets and
business models enhancing social awareness
and investments for Sustainable-by-Design
innovation.
This section addresses technologies at
the material or article level that allow the
dismantling of plastic products and the
capabilities to recycle the polymers they
are made of. The simulation, material and
manufacturing steps are the key stages to
reach an optimum of sustainability by design.
Moreover, plastic production, use and disposal
may result in the release of chemicals which may
11 Plastics Sustainable-By-Design. EU Factsheet
https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/e1e5fcad-fc84-
11ea-b44f-01aa75ed71a1/
16 • SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY
give rise to health and environmental problems.
The development of a common understanding
and the transition to safe- and sustainable-by-
design materials, including plastics, is a societal
urgency.
1. Material design
This section elaborates on the technologies
applied at the material design phase, aiming to
improve the material sustainability.
1.1. Extend lifetime
a) Specific Challenges: Repairing and
preserving polymer properties.
Technologies aiming at reducing end-of-life
plastic waste and saving resources by extending
the lifetime of polymer materials and hence
the article lifetime. Repairing and preserving
polymer properties using i.e. self-healing
polymers is a solution in a medium long-term
range.
Scope:
Several applications of polymers need
to maintain their structural and physical
properties for long periods of time, and often
withstand extreme conditions, erosion and
other wear mechanisms. Structural repair is
a major challenge particularly for advanced
composites in aerospace, windmill or automotive
applications. Different defects are initiated
during manufacturing and in-service use.
Delamination and matrix cracking which cannot
be repaired with existing technologies can occur
which leads to high scrap rates, up to 20-30%
depending on the part complexity. The solutions
proposed to address such specific challenges
comprise self-healing polymers based on
thermally reversible Diels-Alder reactions,
disulphide-thiol exchange reactions, repair
polymers based on dynamic hardeners, etc…
Further improvements are possible applying
more accurate and effective signals to trigger
the healing process when needed (e.g. UV,
pH, temperature). Accelerating the exchange
reactions using linkers in order to develop more
accurate and effective detection signals, novel
repairing technologies based on the reshuffling
of chemical bonds by applying heat and
pressure should also be considered.
Technology Readiness Level
Activities are currently at TRL 3 and shall achieve
TRL 5-6 at the end of the project.
Expected Impact:
Significant reduction of the time and
resources for material development and
upscaling with respect to established
conditions, with a return on investment of
less than 5 years for specific market sectors.
Quantifiable enhancement of the quality
and reliability of products, with consequent
improvement of product lifetime and
associated environmental and economic
benefits.
b) S
 pecific Challenges: Improving
ageing.
External conditions such as extreme temperatures,
pressure, UV exposure, humidity, mechanical
stress and others can degrade material properties
and decrease their performance. In order to
increase article lifetime, it is desirable to limit
the degradation due to the ageing mechanisms
and improve the ageing performance. Different
approaches have been developed like the
addition of chemical additives in the plastic
or composite matrix and their controlled
application in relevant areas throughout the
matrix structure. To control the improvements on
the nano-reinforcement and polymeric matrix
interface, there is a need to improve chemical
compatibility and dispersion stability as well as
increasing mixing efficiency when necessary.
Scope:
Additives and nano-additives show potential
in improving polymers performance by
adapting each material to its application
requirements. Material properties at the nano-
and microstructure level can be programmed by
changing their morphology in order to control
and adapt them to the different conditions
(e.g. improving barrier properties, increasing
the diffusion path for gases and water, adjust
stiffness, rigidity, sealability). Recipe ingredients
may be optimised to adjust material properties
to meet environmental and application
requirements thereby extending its service
lifetime without undermining the efficiency and
quality of the recycling process.
SUSTAINABLE PLASTIC STRATEGY • 17
Technology Readiness Level
Activities are currently at TRL 4-5 and shall
achieve TRL 6-7 at the end of the project.
Expected Impact:
At least 20% faster verification of material
performances is expected for highly
promising applications. At least 20%
improvement in industrial productivity,
reliability, environmental performance,
durability, and reduction of life-cycle costs of
these materials.
The application of available or emerging
technologies (Chemical Vapor Deposition,
Physical Vapor Deposition, nanolithography)
to get smart surface design for all types of
bio-based polymers or get a good control of
the surface or the internal polymer structure
through processes shall be contemplated. The
development of active bio-based packages
to meet the needs of both fresh and pre-
treated food applications for specific flexible
and rigid food packages in diverse market
segments is required as well as the scale up of
existing laboratory level of smart functionally
technologies to prototype pilot scale level.

Technology Readiness Level

c) S
 pecific Challenges: Improving
Activities are currently at TRL 5 and shall achieve
ageing performance of bio-based
TRL 7 at the end of the project.
materials.

To improve the final properties of bio-based

materials and their basic surface properties Expected Impact:
without chemical treatment and use of liquids. At least 20% improvement of materials
One solution is based on single-polymer performance is expected for promising
approach and a confined crystalline structure applications. At least 20% improvement
of PLA or PHA with low gas permeability. This in industrial productivity, reliability,
could improve barrier, anti-fog, anti-fouling and environmental performance, durability, and
antistatic surface properties of those bio-based reduction of life-cycle costs of these bio-
materials. based materials.
Scope:
Different approaches have been developed
like the addition of chemical additives in the
bio-based plastic or composites matrix or
a good control at nanoscale of the matrix
structure. Additives and nano additives can
improve polymer performances by adapting
each material to its application requirements.

18 • SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY

 1.2. Material usage vs performance
Technologies that aim at decreasing material
usage while maintaining or improving the
mechanical behaviour of existing materials.
a) S
 pecific Challenges: Improve
performance.
Growing demand for high performing materials
and more complex products increases the need
for material usage, in terms of quantity and
variety.
Scope:
Composites can improve the material
performance by providing high strength and
stiffness without undermining the aesthetical
appearance of the final product. Composites, as
well as multilayer materials require less amounts
of material for a given functionality and have
the potential to perform as well as, or better
than, conventional materials such as metals
decreasing thus the final amount of material
use. The innovation would be in new precursor
formulations, improved reinforcement and
manufacturing technologies to reduce costs.
The development of automated manufacturing
technologies is required to reduce cycle times
and cost of manufacturing. With respect to the
circular economy approach, the improvement of
separation of dissimilar materials and recyclate
properties are real needs. A complementary
option is making composites from carefully
chosen waste plastics.
Technology Readiness Level
Activities are currently at TRL 5 and shall achieve
TRL 8 at the end of the project.
Expected Impact:
At least 20% improvement in industrial
productivity, reliability, environmental
performance, durability, and reduction
of life-cycle costs of these materials, at
least 15% improved industrial process
parameters and 20% faster verification of
materials performance for highly promising
applications are expected.
1.3. Increase recyclability
Technologies aiming at increasing inherent
recyclability of polymers.
Specific Challenges:
Common petrochemical-derived polymers such
as polyethylene and polypropylene take many
years to break down as their carbon chains do
not contain chemical groups that could act as
obvious ‘break points’ for chemical or biological
reactions. These polymer chains form crystalline
regions that confer excellent thermal and
mechanical properties, making the material
extremely durable, but also less amenable
SUSTAINABLE PLASTIC STRATEGY • 19
to degradation after use. In order to address
these issues new plastics shall be designed to
facilitate recycling12. This could allow to produce
materials able to ‘degrade on demand’, with the
degradation products being chemically recycled
to polymer or transformed into other building
blocks. New plastics capable of maintaining
desirable material properties for re-use should
also be targeted, for example through self-
healing processes. Recycling of multi-layer
films, or recycling of waste from electrical and
electronic equipment (WEEE) is difficult due to
the multiple types of polymers included in such
products and the difficulty in separating them.
Scope:
The transformation from multicomponent
(multilayer or blend of polymers) compositions
to one compatible multiphase mixture which
can be more easily reprocessed by incorporating
compatibilizers is one of the possible options.
Homoplastic composites, where a single polymer
chemistry performs multiple functions through
control across chain length could allow a
single type of material used for the packaging,
adhesive, and barrier layer that would simplify
recycling. Multi-layer materials can have an
overall benefit with the parallel deployment
12 Beyond Mechanical Recycling: Giving New Life to Plastic Waste
Figure 1:
Common polymer additives used to
improve polymer recyclates
(Source: Mechanical Recycling of Packaging Plastics:
A Review13)
13 Mechanical Recycling of Packaging Plastics: A Review
20 • SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY
of dissolution recycling. The development of
new generation of compatibilizers could offer
a wider range of potential compatible mixture
of polymers from such multicomponent
products. The compatibilizer can upgrade
mechanical properties of waste streams through
compatibilization of contaminant and/or the
different phases. Also, separation of layers
based on specific adhesives or additives could
facilitate higher purity of the output. Whenever
possible, recyclability can be further enhanced
using surface nano-textures replacing additives
for certain functionalities and using additives
to reduce the need of multilayers. The use of
waxy products from plastic waste pyrolysis as a
compatibilizer could serve two purposes:
a) a useful outlet for pyrolyzed plastic waste and
b) an increased recyclate quality. These would
increase the recycling rate. Plastic containing
additives which protect the polymer structure
can also be contemplated. Another approach
for thermoset products could be based on
chemically modified polymers (e.g. PS), which
can facilitate the thermal degradation without
affecting mechanical properties. Bio-based
compatibilizers and additives based on natural or
recyclable raw materials that can further reduce
the carbon footprint from a life cycle perspective
can be an option too. Some of the proposed
solutions are illustrated in Figure 1.
Technology Readiness Level
Activities are currently at TRL 3-5 and shall
achieve TRL 6-8 at the end of the project.
Expected Impact:
Improvement of the recycling yield, the
purity of waste and the quality of the
recyclable plastic. Increase the use of
recyclable polymers in second-generation
products.
1.4. Biodegradation
Specific Challenges:
Biodegradation depends on the interplay
between the materials properties and the
environmental conditions. Biodegradable
plastics may bring benefits over conventional
plastics in applications where it is challenging
to collect a particular products from the
environment after use (e.g. agricultural mulch
films), where it is difficult to separate plastic
from organic waste (e.g. compostable food
bags) or for certain applications in the medical
and personal care fields. For these applications,
the key is to make separate collection of bio-
waste. Such biodegradable polymers should not
be considered a substitute for recycling, or an
excuse to dispose of plastics in the environment.
Life time of biodegradable plastics in different
conditions are key, but so far there is a lack of
experimental data to predict breakdown in
complex natural environments. Harmonisation
and development of standards is needed.
Furthermore, environmental claims regarding
biodegradability or compostability should
comply with appropriate standards such as ISO
18606 or EN 13432 and EN 14995.
Scope:
Careful examination of standards and labelling
of polymers will ensure a proper understanding
of terms such as recyclable, compostable,
biodegradable. Research is needed to
understand the biodegradation of polymers in
a broad range of industrial and environmental
conditions, how it is influenced by humidity,
pH, temperature, solvent, catalyst, light, micro-
organisms and enzymes, as well as the interplay
between these factors in a range of real processes
and environments. The fate and impact of
the degradation products must also be fully
considered, as should any additives in these
plastics. In parallel, strategies to understand and
improve the biodegradability of the currently
non-degradable polymers are of high relevance.
Environmentally degradable polymers will
need to be competitive in performance and
cost to become scalable, efficient, economical,
and sustainable. Different biodegradable
polymers are needed, tailored towards specific
applications. Compostable films can have a
shelf life of one year, with identical mechanical
properties of non-compostable films and can
be converted through extrusion. At their end
of life, they can be composted domestically,
achieving more than 90% disintegration in
less than 6 months. Biodegradable polymers
SUSTAINABLE PLASTIC STRATEGY • 21
can be produced from bio-sources as well as
fossil sources. Different approaches towards
biodegradation have a high potential such as
the enzymatic route. The design of material-
adapted bacteria is another approach, as some
microbes can degrade plastics like PP, PE, PS to
shorter hydrocarbons. Additionally, efficiency of
microbial plastic degradation can be enhanced
with metabolic engineering. Whatever the
solution, there is a need to get good repeatability,
purity of monomer, duration, thermal stability. In
fact, still some progress is necessary to improve
properties and control the biodegradation which
needs to comply with internationally recognised
biodegradability standards.
Technology Readiness Level
Activities are currently at TRL 4 and shall achieve
TRL 7 at the end of the project.
Expected Impact:
Reduce the environmental impact associated
with the end-of-life phase of developed
packaging products by at least 30 % compared
with existing products for similar applications.
Improve sustainability performance (in terms of
biodegradability, compostability or recyclability)
compared with existing plastics. Develop at
least two applications utilising ‘outperforming’
biodegradable polymers, with improved
properties compared to the current alternatives
based on fossil-based counterparts.
22 • SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY
1.5. Addressing micro and nano-
plastics
Specific Challenges:
Analytical methods are needed to study
micro and nano-plastics of different types and
shapes and at different size and time scales.
These include high-throughput spectroscopy
and microscopy techniques that generate
reproducible data about the size distribution,
structure and properties of microplastics in the
environment. Predictive models can simulate
the transport and distribution of micro-plastics,
which will help to understand the location, fate
and persistence of plastic waste and they may
also allow to predict the environmental impact of
new plastics before they get to market. A proper
understanding of the process of formation and
degradation in the environment of secondary
micro-plastics and nano plastics, across a range
of environments including soils, freshwater,
oceans as well as the health effects of micro
and nano-plastics is essential. Most of the
plastic waste is generated on land, but plastic
pollution ends up in the marine environment,
and plastic particles are reported to occur from
tropical to polar areas and from beaches to deep-
sea sediments and even in remote mountain
lakes. Plastic particles have been found in the
atmosphere and in terrestrial ecosystems,
such as urban and agricultural soils. The size
of a piece of plastic is an important factor in
determining its impact on the environment.
Possible risks associated with plastic particles
cannot be generalized because they comprise
a very heterogeneous group of particles that
vary in polymer composition, additive content,
size (macro-plastics: larger than 2.5 centimetres,
meso-plastics: 5 millimetres to 2.5 centimetres,
microplastics: 1 micrometres to 5 millimetres,
nano-plastics: smaller than 1 micrometre),
shape, ageing state, and consequently in their
physicochemical properties.
Scope:
Technologies to analyse and quantify micro-
plastics in the environment and study their
distribution and pathways in the environment as
well as their mechanical, chemical and biological
degradation from macro- to meso-, micro- and
nano-plastics. Micro-plastics analytical processes
include sampling, extraction, quantitation and
quality assurance/quality control (QAQC), each
of them requiring further method development
and harmonisation. The most common approach
to extracting micro-plastics is filtration and
density separation. Following extraction, visual
counting with an optical microscope is the
most common technique for quantifying micro-
plastics. But this technique is labour intensive
and prone to human error. Spectroscopic
approaches (FTIR; Raman) are the most applied
techniques for identifying polymers collected
through visual sorting. Improvements and
harmonisation on size fractions, sampling
approaches, extraction protocols and units
for reporting plastic abundance would help
comparison of data generated by different
research teams. Inter-laboratory proficiency
testing is recommended to give an indication
of the variation and reliability in measurements
reported in the scientific literature that may
be under- or overestimations of environmental
burdens. Numerical modelling is one of the
key tools to gain insight into the distribution of
micro-plastics in the nature. A series of numerical
simulations have been constructed, with focus
in marine environments, including the effects
of currents, waves, and wind as well as a series
of processes that impact how particles interact
with ocean currents, including fragmentation
and degradation highlight the importance of
knowing accurately the sources or entry points of
marine plastic debris, including potential sources
that have not been incorporated in previous
studies (e.g., atmospheric contributions). These
numerical models should be contrasted with
experimental data, further improved and shall
integrate other environments such as rivers,
water treatment plants, agricultural fields or
urban agglomerations. Secondary micro-plastics
are derived from the breakdown of larger plastic
debris, both at sea and on land. Over time,
physical, chemical, photochemical and biological
degradation might further degrade them to be
smaller in size converting them into nano-plastics
that can reach the food chain or be completely
degraded to CO2. The kinetics of these processes
under different environmental conditions is
not known yet and it is essential to predict and
minimize the accumulation of microplastics in
nature and reduce their impacts on humans and
the environment.
SUSTAINABLE PLASTIC STRATEGY • 23
Technology Readiness Level
Activities are currently at TRL 4 and shall achieve
TRL 7 at the end of the project.
Expected Impact:
Insight and better understanding of the
environmental footprint associated with the
end-of-life phase.
2. Article Design
This section elaborates on the technologies
applied at the material design phase, aiming to
improve its overall circularity.
2.1. Design for dismantling
Specific Challenges:
Most plastics are designed to be durable and
to maintain their structure and performances
during their useful life. But in sectors such
as packaging this durability can give rise to
pollution, because discarded waste plastic can
persist in the environment for years or decades.
Allowing for plastic articles to be reused multiple
times in refillable packaging represent a more
sustainable option than providing disposable
packaged articles. Technologies aiming at easing
dismantling of products containing plastic with
the goal of increasing the volume and purity of
the collected and sorted plastic waste, resulting
in higher quantities and quality of the recycled
or reused material shall be put in place.
24 • SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY
Scope:
It is common that component parts of a
same product have different characteristics
and lifetimes. Dismantling considerations,
not anticipated at the design stage, result in
materials being discarded before reaching their
end-of-life. Coupled with the growing complexity
of products, materials that otherwise are easily
recyclable lose most of their potential quality
due to the incapacity of separating mono-
material parts from each other. Design product
parts to incorporate reversible adhesives could
allow a better management of used articles
through easy disassembly (i. e. adhesives based
on Diels-Alder reaction, dithiol or disulphide
exchange reactions).
Technology Readiness Level
Activities are currently at TRL 4 and shall achieve
TRL 7 at the end of the project.
Expected Impact:
New business opportunities for the recycling
industry across Europe, especially in the
area of composites and plastics where the
challenge is high. Proposals should prove
that the target products are recyclable or
compostable in various environments to
reduce their overall environmental footprint.
This will make their production and use
more circular.
 2.2. Decrease material usage
Specific Challenges:
The growing complexity of products, together
with the wide variety of existing polymers,
boosts the use of multi-material design in single
applications. Designing a plastic to be durable in
time, and reusable and/or recyclable (including
organic recycling) at the end of its life, is a major
challenge. For some applications, designing
plastics to be more durable and longer-lived
would be a more sustainable option and should
be explored. Integrate environmental criteria
and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology
in design in order to minimise material use and
environmental impact is an essential need. The
final weight and the multi-material optimisation
(the right material at the right place) need to be
addressed
Scope:
Replace multilayer structures by materials with
targeted thickness while ensuring the same
performance level. Push and facilitate the use
of composite solutions based on polymers,
versus traditional solutions, e.g. based on metals.
Design parts considering weight and multi-
material optimisation (use the right material
at the right place and optimise its form to
limit weight, maximise resistance) Integrate
environmental criteria in packaging design
in order to minimise material use, e.g. mono-
material design, whilst at the same time offering
the same or better functionality.
Technology Readiness Level
Activities are currently at TRL 4 and shall achieve
TRL 8 at the end of the project.
Expected Impact:
Reduce the environmental footprint
associated with the end-of-life phase of
developed packaging products by at least
30 % compared with existing products for
similar applications. Produce multifunctional
product with a minimum of multilayer/
multimaterial structures. Multi-material
structures emerged over the last decades
as highly efficient packaging material,
combining such different features as:
Oxygen barrier, thermoformability, seal
behaviour, water barrier, transparency, etc.
There is currently no single material that
combines all those features. Hence, one shall
not necessarily aim at avoiding multilayer
composites if these materials can be
efficiently recycled.
2.3. Monolayer pouch and in-mold
labelling
Specific Challenges:
A reduction of packaging waste and efficient
use of resources are required by legislations in
the EU. This can be achieved through weight
reduction of single use packaging. Light
weighted containers are however difficult to
handle and especially tedious to decorate.
For example, thin containers (pouches) are light
weighted and can achieve weight reduction
targets. However, their multi-layered structure is
not suitable for the current recycling processes
SUSTAINABLE PLASTIC STRATEGY • 25
since they are pre-printed, laminated and
assembled into a pouch. To overcome this
challenge, a recyclable monolayer (pouch)
with decoration (in-mold labelling) needs to be
developed.
Scope:
Demonstrations of the monolayer pouch
prototype and in-mold labelling have been
completed in some industrial production
settings. Both technologies are ready to be
used in the industrial scale. As a next step, the
technologies should be installed in actual filling
lines for an operational environment proof of
concept.
Technology Readiness Level
Activities are currently at TRL 7 and shall achieve
TRL 9 at the end of the project.
Expected Impact:
The development of monolayer pouches
and in-mold labelling technologies will
offer weight reduced packaging (i.e. PET/
PE) to the market fulfilling the product
requirements with a 20 to 25% weight
reduction. In parallel, the technologies will
support the envisaged recycling targets
of the Packaging and Packaging Waste
Directive14 (PPWD) and the objectives of the
European Green Deal and the new Circular
Economy Action Plan (CEAP) to ensure that
“all packaging on the EU market is reusable
or recyclable in an economically viable
way by 2030”. It will also contribute to the
objective of European Strategy for Plastics to
ensure that by 2030 “all plastics packaging
placed on the market can be reused or
recycled in a cost-effective manner”.
XXX14
14 https://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/packaging/ongoing-re-
view-packaging-waste-directive_en.htm
26 • SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY
2.4. Refillable and recyclable PET
bottles
Specific Challenges:
A reduction of packaging waste as well as the
minimization of a product carbon footprint
are required under several legislations in the
EU. The deployment of a PET refillable bottles
system could strongly support these targets as
the excessive CO2 emission can be minimized
with PET material (e.g. in comparison to refillable
glass bottles). Moreover, PET is a material that
can be efficiently recycled with existing recycling
infrastructures.
Scope:
Establishment of PET refillable products with
special PET grades which are resistant to the
high temperature washing lines.
Technology Readiness Level
Activities are currently at TRL 6 and shall achieve
TRL 9 at the end of the project.
Expected Impact:
Single use plastic packaging is mainly
used in many beverage markets including
the milk market. Since the PET recycling
infrastructure is already established, if
the reuse solution is communicated to
the market, at least 20% of the market is
expected to accept PET refillable bottles.
SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY • 27
Sustainable Recycling
1. Plastic stream preparation
(waste pre-treatment)
Specific Challenges:
Plastic articles to be recycled contain solid
and liquid contaminants that result from their
specific use and history. These contaminants can
highly affect the quality of the recycling output
and are not easily removable. Besides, they may
convey notable odours that do not modify the
plastic physical or chemical properties, yet it
can make the recycled materials unfit for some
specific uses. The contamination of used farm
films is a typical example: In mulching, the
contamination of the plastic films can represent
up to 70% of the volume collected what leads to
significant additional costs in terms of recovery
operations and treatment. In the specific case
of plastics used in packaging, an additional
challenge resides in the removal of the inks
which are often directly printed on the polymer
films. Removal of these inks is difficult, costly and
energy intensive. As a result, plastic waste with
printed inks are often recycled as is and used in
lower value products such as plastic shopping
bags. To decrease this value loss, it is desirable to
develop cost and energy efficient technologies
for ink removal.
Scope:
Solutions applied through continuous processes
are especially attractive. For example, the use
of solvating fluids during continuous extrusion
allows to treat flowable polymer mass by
solvating and extracting organic, and especially
28 • SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY
non-volatile, contaminants from the polymer
mass. The efficacy of such approach can be
enhanced by employing sensors to detect and
remove contaminants of different nature (stones,
particles, additives) and sizes. The development
of sensors with higher sensitivity/precision and
lower cost would allow a better treatment of the
films and a higher quality of the final recycled
materials. As far as the removal of odour or ink
is concerned, technologies like supercritical
extraction, water-based oxidant treatments,
use of a demulsifier in the washing step or
biological treatments are especially attractive.
But their implementation still requires further
developments to reduce their respective costs.
Technology Readiness Level
Activities are currently at TRL 5 and shall achieve
TRL 7/8 at the end of the project.
Expected Impact:
Meeting the EU’s circular economy and
environmental targets while demonstrating
a clear benefit, i.e. more efficient or
economic than the state-of-the-art in order
to enable market uptake in the short to
medium term. Reduction of the carbon
footprint of the corresponding products by >
30% (based on a full LCA) and demonstrate a
potential reduction in landfill waste volume
by > 50%.
2. Plastic waste preparation Technology Readiness Level
Activities are currently at TRL 5 and shall achieve
TRL 7 at the end of the project.
Specific Challenges:
The separation of the various polymers Expected Impact:
comprised in a stack is often difficult and still
Meeting the EU’s circular economy and
needs to be performed manually most of
environmental targets while demonstrating
the time. Robotics could help and should be
a clear benefit, i.e. more efficient or
optimized. Especially after grinding, it is even
economic than the state of the art in order
more difficult to separate polymers, which
to enable market uptake in the short to
results in contaminated input streams in the
medium term. At least 20% improvement
recycling process. Ensuring high purity and high
in industrial productivity, reliability,
value recyclate requires to separate the polymers
environmental performance, durability,
in the stack in order to allow a proper sorting of
and reduction of life-cycle costs of these
the materials.
materials Demonstrate a potential reduction
Scope: in landfill waste volume.

The development of integrated solutions of

grinding machinery with thermal, chemical, and
magnetic separation should be considered and
tested in pilot lines. The increase of production
volume of the mills using cold base technology
could offer some leverage upon the overall
energy consumption of the mill internals and
balance of systems material flow. Besides, the
use of detection systems for ground particles
from agglomerates in order to better separate
coarse particles and consequently return them
as rejects into the mill. Besides the use of mill,
employing supercritical liquid could permit to
separate the polymers in a stack in an efficient
manner.
3. Sorting and separation
Specific Challenges:
The composition of waste streams of polymer
articles can have high variations. Typically,
household plastic waste can be composed of a
stream of rigid bottles (PET and PE) to streams
containing additional trays, pots and films, with
a wide range of different polymers. Rigid plastics
can contain films which are often multi-layered,

SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY • 29

and hence difficult to separate. Bottles can Scope:
be covered in PVC sleeve labels, or PET grade
In the case of wet sorting, approaches like
materials need to be separated from bottles
hydrocyclone and flotation still require further
and trays. Furthermore, applications polymers
developments to i) strongly reduce their
are often mixed with other materials (e.g. wood,
cost and ii) offer a better selectivity on light
metals,), and can contain legacy additives, such
polymers and polymers having the same density
as brominated flame retardants (BrFR) but also
respectively. Process to eliminate contaminants,
organic additives such as plasticizers and dyes.
sorting for higher quality batches together with
The sorting and separation of the polymers
selective precipitation should be considered. In
according to the type of additive they contain
the case of dry sorting, polymer identification
is difficult. In order to recycle efficiently these
methods based on multi-dimensional column
streams, the sorting of polymer articles by their
chromatography based technique either
constituent materials is of primary importance.
with Ultra Violet (UV), Mass Spectrometry
This sorting ensures a minimum of waste and a
(MS) or Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)
high quality and purity product. This sorting is
detection or based on spectroscopic, on optical
particularly tedious for small or light plastic items
spectroscopies like Visible (VIS), Near Infrared
due to their specific geometry, morphology,
(NIR) and RAMAN spectroscopies as well as
and low weight. The two main routes currently
Mid Infrared Thermography (MIR-T) and Laser-
employed, namely wet and dry sorting, still
Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) would
require further technical enhancements and
benefit from the improvement of optical
cost reduction to ensure a large deployment
sensors. A better spatial recognition would
and an increase of the overall recovery yield of
allow to automate sorting in higher speeds,
plastics. Special attention should be given to
a higher accuracy and lower detection limits
both the construction and the packaging sector
and it would permit to identify legacy additive
as well as to bio-based polymers for which the
(like brominates) at lower concentrations and
current level of recycling is not as high as for
the detection of organic additives. X-ray based
fossil-based polymers due to the lower volumes
technics like X-Ray transmission imaging (XRT)
in the market. The final goal of recycling being to
and Energy Dispersive X-ray fluorescence (XRF)
reduce the environmental impact, the solutions
could be applied to smaller recycling units if
developed should avoid using consumables,
their cost were reduced. Moreover, it would be
which generate a negative impact on the
beneficial to increase the detection capabilities
environment. High level economic, cost benefit
of these tools in order to identify a wider range
analyses for various options should exist to
of additives and increase the speed of sorting.
come to best overall approach on separation
Terahertz spectroscopy offers interesting feature,
vs recycling options, i.e. it is not always best to
although the plastic optical recognition needs
get monostreams, while other options exist for
some further improvement. When tracers are
processing of mixed streams.
used, fast and low-cost detection technics to

30 • SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY

identify precisely the articles containing the said
tracer should be developed up-front. All these
technics should be coupled to enhanced sorting
mechanisms (air valves, robotic handling),
and should be tested in pilot scale. Artificial
intelligence (AI) algorithms to reproduce human
recognition could yield the fabrication and use
of AI robot to replace hand pickers. LCA and
Life Cycle Costs (LCC) should be considered
thoroughly in the evaluation of the sorted
materials.
Technology Readiness Level
Activities are currently at TRL 5 and shall achieve
TRL 7/8 at the end of the project, although some
are for the time being at lower level in novel
fields (1 or 2, e.g. identification of organic legacy
additives)
Expected Impact:
At least 20% improvement in industrial
productivity, reliability, environmental
performance, durability, and reduction
of LCC of the materials. Demonstrate a
potential reduction in landfill waste volume.
3.1. Improve sorting
Technologies aiming at improving the inherent
sorting capabilities of polymers.
Specific Challenges:
The wide variety of plastics and diversity of
characteristics make the plastic sorting process
very complex and inefficient, resulting in great
losses of material value. The identification of
the different types of polymers among plastic
waste is not efficient enough due to the variety
of colours, properties and shapes. Multilayer
materials, dark, and especially black coloured
plastics and compostable plastics are especially
challenging when it comes to detection, sorting
and separation. Some mixed plastics streams
could fit for a chemical recycling route, when
sorting would not give good quality or is not
economically sound for mechanical recycling.
Scope:
A lot of technologies exist to sort plastic wastes
and methods for object classification comprising
the steps of: Guiding a continuous stream of
objects from a transport mechanism directly
into an unsupported path, along which the
stream is fed through a detection region;
illuminating with a radiation band in a first
direction; optically scanning the detection region
to detect electromagnetic radiation reflected
by the object in the detection region15. Other
developments relate to sorting devices and
methods for sorting products that are moved
in a flow through an inspection zone, wherein a
light beam is moved over the flow so that that
all products are hit by the light beam in the
inspection zone. The light of this light beam is on
the one hand, directly reflected as of the point of
impact on the products, and, on the other hand,
it is reflected in a scattered manner as of a zone
round the point of impact by the diffusion of the
light beam’s light in the products16. Generally,
2
15 European Patent Application EP3450029 A
16 European Granted Patent EP2234736 B1
SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY • 31
the technics are based on surface markings
through diffraction gratings, fluorescent markers Expected Impact:
or UV markers.Tracer-based sorting (TBS) is
Create new technologies and business
an optical technology which detects specific
opportunities for the recycling industry
light signals emitted by the polymers, which
across Europe, especially in the area of
have previously been exposed to a certain
plastics where the challenge is high. Towards
light source, but the cost and efficiency need
100% recycled plastic after sorting stage.
to be improved. The optical response and
Demonstrate a potential reduction in landfill
sorting effectivity of different marker-plastic
waste volume by > 50%.
combination and thermal stability are some of
Meeting the EU’s circular economy and
the main bottlenecks with the recyclability of
environmental targets while demonstrating
plastics containing markers. The repeatability
a clear benefit.
and reproducibility need to be improved in
order to increase the sorting efficiency and the
quality of the recyclable plastics. The developed
solutions can be applied to packaging as well 3.2. Improve separation
as other applications. Progress in infrared
a) Specific Challenges: Polymers
detection does not require tracers. NIR based
separation.
state-of-the-art detection systems can reliably
sort styrenic plastics out of mixed plastic waste Technologies aiming at improving the inherent
and very precisely differentiate between HIPS separation capabilities of polymers. Multilayer
and GPPS, for example. Due to the fact that or multipolymer structures are some of the
styrenic compounds have a unique signal that plastic waste streams which need an efficient
enable easy and very precise sorting, NIR sensor separation in order to improve the quality of
technology enables easy sorting of polystyrene recycled plastics and to decrease the landfill.
from mixed post-consumer plastic waste using a Multilayer polymers and composites present
multi-step process. high limitations for separation, due to the
different properties of each component. For
Technology Readiness Level
example, the presence of dynamic chemical
Activities are currently at TRL 3 and shall crosslinks in thermoset fibre reinforced
achieve TRL 8. The range is broad based on polymer composites (TS FRP) enable the
the development of new concept (low TRL) or chemical separation of the matrix from fibre
improving existing ones. The particular NIR reinforcement.
sensor technology to sort polystyrene from
mixed post-consumer plastics waste has a TRL
of 9.

32 • SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY

Scope:
Cross Linked Thermosets (CLT) and FRP
composites cannot be recycled throughout
re-melting due to their cross-linked three-
dimensional chemical structure and their
complex structure, respectively. Combining
nucleation and low crosslinking degrees could
be a way to facilitate the separation of fibres
from the polymer matrix. In multilayers or multi-
materials, polymers should be easily separated
into relatively pure mono-material streams. First
reversible adhesives have been demonstrated
with different approaches (shape memory- and
hydrogen bonding, with conductive nano-
ferromagnetic particles, incorporating enzymes,
vitrimers). Such laboratory feasibility needs
to be scaled up and show improvements of
the chemical separation process efficiency, by
optimizing time, temperature and the type
of solvents. In order to get a high efficiency
in separation, it is important to get adhesion
between multi-materials with high bonding
and quick bond breaking/remaking capability
whatever the process uses to produce the
multilayer or multi-material products (extrusion,
injection, etc.). The optimisation of the process
and separated material for the reuse of
separated resins and fibre reinforcements is
crucial for the final validation of the separation
efficiency.
Technology Readiness Level
Activities are currently at TRL 4 and shall achieve
TRL 7 at the end of the project.
Expected Impact:
Create new technologies and business
opportunities for the recycling industry
across Europe, especially in the area of
composites and plastics. Demonstrate a
potential reduction in landfill waste volume
by > 50%; Reduction of the carbon footprint
of the corresponding products by > 30%
(based on a full LCA).
b) S
 pecific Challenges: Separation-
maceration of polyolefins and other
polymers.
Polyolefin represent around 50% of the total
annual plastic consumption in Europe. PE
recycling however is still not allowing food
contact at the PE streams coming back from
the sorting centres. Furthermore, existing PE
decontamination technologies generally require
very high energy inputs. To fulfil the European
recycling targets as well as the climate neutrality
targets, a PE recycling and decontamination
process needs to be developed to allow for food
contact PE with minimum energy input.
Scope:
Certain treatments can cause a maceration
of PE. This affects the PE matrix and expands
the space between PE-chains in the matrix,
enabling the washing out of contaminants such
as smelly components, short chain fragments
(oligomers) and additives and their degradation
SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY • 33
products. Selection of suitable conditions for PE
maceration that reaches a maximum expansion
without destroying the matrix of the plastic is
a first step. Further, the search of the optimal
conditions for the “wash out” process and to
return the material to a processable state. Third,
the processing in a way that is environmentally
friendly and minimizes any carbon emissions.
Fourth, limitation of residuals in the Polyethylene
to fulfil the European Food and Safety
Authority (EFSA) and the USA Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) requirements.
Technology Readiness Level
Activities are currently at TRL 3 and shall achieve
TRL 8 at the end of the project.
Expected Impact:
The aim is to find a way to bring back the
PE for industrial re-use. This would mean
increasing the recycling rate of PE in line
with the EU regulation. The successful
project would affect the HDPE recycling rate
dramatically since it would bring back rHDPE
for use in food contact application areas or
even open the possibility to use rHDPE from
non-food origins for packaging in the food
industry. It would mean treated HDPE from
health care, home care and other non-food
application can be brought back to these
markets, but without any of the restrictions
of colour and smell. If the HDPE maceration
is successful, this would open the way to
work on recirculation of LDPE and most of
the other PE species back into their original
markets. Due to the absence of colour, smell
and viscosity disturbing elements they could
be used as “drop in” chemicals.
34 • SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY
4. Recycling technologies
Plastic waste is one of the most complex
material mixtures from a recycling perspective.
The recycling effort includes various methods,
such as chemical recycling (pyrolysis,
gasification, depolymerisation), mechanical
recycling, biotechnological processes as well as
integrated upgrading options, like direct, ex-situ
catalytic pyrolysis17. The most suited materials
3
for chemical recycling by depolymerisation
are the polymers with a ceiling temperature
Tc (temperature at which the polymer
decomposes into its monomers) slightly above
the highest processing temperature. The de-
polymerization of polystyrene, PMMA and PET
is advantageous since they are mass-polymers
having a “benign” ceiling temperature Tc, which
is slightly below 400 °C in case of PS and HIPS.
The de-polymerization of Polystyrene (HIPS and
GPPS) works with high yield and selectivity and
represents a technology/material combination
for full circularity, enabling continuous recycling
loops. By depolymerization, Polystyrene is easily
reversed into its constituent monomer at high
yield. The liquid state of the monomer facilitates
purification. The resulting recycled monomer
is identical to the virgin monomer and can be
polymerised again to virgin quality polystyrene
enabling all applications, including food
contact. At the ceiling temperature, polymers
decompose into their monomers, and a Tc in
a.m. range allows to rapidly produce Styrene,
with the upside potential of maximizing yield by
17 Effect of catalyst contact mode and gas atmosphere during catalytic
pyrolysis of waste plastics
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/
S0196890417302820
optimization of reaction conditions, especially
the reactor residence time at depolymerization
temperature. Agilyx has demonstrated in their
Tigard (Oregon) plant the depolymerization
of PS into monomers. The current challenge
is to scale up reactor and purification (e.g.
distillation) process. The waste-to-monomers
through solvolysis and/or de-polymerization is
relatively developed for some polymers such
as PET, polyamides and PS as stated above but
lacking behind for polyolefins. The chemical
recycling of mass consumption plastics like PE
or PP result in defined added-value products
(such as waxes, oils). Pyrolysis technologies
(conventional pyrolysis, plasma, microwave
assisted pyrolysis, hydrocracking, pyrolysis with
in-line reforming) have a range of maturities
that go from concept all the way to small demo
plants depending whether waste-to-fuel or
Figure 2: CO2-equivalent
emissions of different End of Life
treatment technologies applied
for several plastic-waste streams,
in relative emissions indexed to
incineration (100 wt%).
(Source: Beyond Mechanical Recycling: Giving New
Life to Plastic Waste20)6
20 Beyond Mechanical Recycling: Giving New Life to Plastic
Waste
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.201915651
waste-to-chemicals is considered18. Gasification
4
processes (conventional gasification, plasma
assisted gasification) which can possibly be
combined with biological and chemical post-
treatment- show a wide TRL range while
currently pilot and demo plants are under
investigation. Both recycling technologies
(pyrolysis and gasification) can recycle plastic
waste to chemical building blocks. Especially
for polyolefins, these might be viable options.
Biotechnological processes for plastic waste
valorisation are currently at TRL 2-3. They can
be suitable to be combined with integrated
upgrading options, like direct, ex-situ catalytic
pyrolysis19.5
18 Technologies for chemical recycling of household plastics –
A technical review and TRL assessment
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0956053X20300465
19 Effect of catalyst contact mode and gas atmosphere during catalytic
pyrolysis of waste plastics
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/
S0196890417302820
SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY • 35
More fundamental research is thus needed to
reach a TRL 5 by 2030. The current CO2 emission
impacts of various recycling technologies is
depicted in Figure 2.
4.1. Chemical recycling of plastics
waste by pyrolysis
Scope:
Pyrolysis is conducted at relatively high
temperatures and in the absence of oxygen; it is
particularly applicable to mixed polymer waste
that is not suitable for mechanical recycling.
During the thermal decomposition, complex
product mixtures of variable composition are
produced. The decomposition products, in
the form of liquid oil or gases, are valuable as
fuel or chemical building blocks. A mixture of
unreacted carbon char and ash remain as a
residual. Pyrolysis is possible with or without a
catalyst. Pyrolysis of mass consumption plastics
like PE or PP result in defined value products
(such as waxes, oils). Catalytic pyrolysis seems a
viable route to plastic waste recycling. Integrated
Cascading Catalytic Pyrolysis (ICCP) maximises
product value with high Benzene, Toluene and
Xylene (BTX) and aromatics yields, while being
energy positive (overall generates heat). Feed
composition flexibility is high due to orientation
on aromatics, i.e. mixed plastics can contain
aromatics-based polymers.
36 • SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY
Specific challenges:
High energy-intensity required due to high
process temperatures. Prevention and/or
removal of hazardous and corrosive compounds
that can be generated during the process add
into process complexity, scalability and safety
challenges. Reactor fouling due to by-products
(ash). Dehalogenation procedures are necessary,
because the oils collected in single pyrolysis
process may contain halogenated organic
compounds, which would detrimentally impact
the reuse of pyrolysis oils. Recovery/trapping of
dehalogenation (e.g. by basic salts formation)
is necessary, because these can be further
reutilized as raw materials. Avoidance of hetero-
atoms in the input-stream by tailor made sorting
technologies that reject those. Increase available
input volume by tailor made sorting, e.g. Mixed
Polyolefins (MPO) fraction for pyrolysis. Develop
catalytic pyrolysis to increase monomer recovery
from solid plastic waste. Efforts are needed to
enhance catalytic performance by increasing
conversion efficiency, selectivity and stability.
Feedstock blend of plastic waste should still be
used for obtaining chemicals/materials.
Technology Readiness Level
Activities are currently at TRL 6-7 and shall
achieve TRL 8-9 at the end of the project.

Expected Impact:
Demonstrate a potential reduction in landfill
waste volume. Create new technologies
and business opportunities for the recycling
industry across Europe, especially in the
areas where the challenge is high. Reduce
the environmental footprint associated with
the end-of-life phase of plastic products.
4.2. Chemical recycling of plastic
waste by gasification
Scope:
Gasification, as a thermochemical conversion
process, can be considered as a promising
technology for the chemical valorisation of
plastics waste. The conversion process takes
place at high temperatures - preferably higher
than 1000 °C - to produce tar-free synthesis gas
consisting mainly of H2 and CO. Ash remains as
a residual whereas the non-volatile carbon char
that would remain from pyrolysis is converted
into additional syngas. Partial oxidation of the
feedstock provides the energy to reach the high
temperatures. Therefore, oxygen is the preferred
gasification agent. However, steam is also utilized
to moderate temperatures in the process and
to increase the yield of H2. Gasification has the
potential to be applied where waste cannot be
treated neither by mechanical recycling nor by
pyrolysis. Temperatures below 1000 °C can be
used to recover olefins from polyolefin plastic
waste.
Specific challenges:
The feeding system of waste material at high
pressure gasification in a continuous process
together with the high temperature/energy
requirements need attention. Fouling due
to by-products (ash and particles) as well as
the fact that tars, heavy metals, halogens and
alkaline compounds can be released within
the product gas, causing environmental and
operational problems for some waste streams. If
the compounds are not properly separated and
recovered from the gas stream, this has to be
addressed. Moreover, process flexibility to cope
with short-term and/or long-term variation of
waste feedstock composition is needed.
Technology Readiness Level
Activities are currently at TRL 6-7 and shall
achieve TRL 8-9 at the end of the project.
Expected Impact:
Demonstrate a potential reduction in landfill
waste volume. Create new technologies
and business opportunities for the recycling
industry across Europe, especially in the
areas where the challenge is high. Reduce
the environmental footprint associated with
the end-of-life phase of plastic products.
SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY • 37
 4.3. Chemical recycling of plastics
waste by depolymerization/
solvolysis
Scope:
Depolymerization, as a conversion process
applied on plastic waste, can deliver substantial
advantages by leading back to the initial building
blocks (monomers), with relatively high yield
and selectivity at relatively low temperatures. In
solvolysis, certain polar and semi polar solvents
(e.g. water, alcohol, glycol) are excellent reaction
media for depolymerization of plastics. During
the decomposition, a mixture of monomers,
oligomers, solvents and residues is created. The
addition of catalysts can improve the reaction
metrics. Polymers to be processed by solvolysis
are for example polyurethanes, PET, textile
polyesters. For composites, depolymerization
also allows the recovery of fibres and fillers.
In addition, circularity-by-design is expected
to facilitate plastic waste treatment by
depolymerization. Ultimately, solvolysis can also
be applied as a pre-treatment for separation of
certain polymer waste streams due to its high
chemical selectivity.
Specific challenges:
Ensure constant input specification of end-of-
life material. Critical pre-treatment step of input
material. Robustness of process to deal with the
potentially high content of impurities of end-
of-life materials. Batch to continuous process to
improve competitiveness at commercial scale.
Downstream separation and purification of
individual monomers after depolymerisation (as
trace solvents and other contaminants influence
38 • SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY
the reprocessing). Large volumes of solvent
and significant energy are required for solvent
recovery. Catalyst developments to improve
the depolymerization and to direct the process
towards specific building blocks are required.
Only a limited number of polymers exist in
a sizable amount that can be converted via
depolymerization, since one of the main issues
is the accessibility of suitable end-of-life material
(preferably mono streams). Beside the process
optimization, collection systems and sorting
technologies are essential to access easy-to-
process waste.
Technology Readiness Level
Activities are currently at TRL 4-5 and shall
achieve TRL 7 at the end of the project.
Expected Impact:
Create new technologies and business
opportunities for the recycling industry
across Europe, especially in the areas
where the challenge is high. Reduce the
environmental footprint associated with
the end-of-life phase of challenging plastic
products.
4.4. Recycling by dissolution of
multi-polymer systems
Scope:
Efficient recycling technologies specifically
suitable for multilayer materials need further
developments. Approaches like immersion in
chemical solutions for separation and catalytic
depolymerisation processes require better
understanding of key parameters like processing
conditions, the nature of the polymers treated,
the nature of the potential contaminants, etc.
Besides, scale up from lab results to pre-pilot or
pilot lines should be performed. The chemical
recycling technologies described in the previous
chapters, as far as they can deal with mixed
plastics, will be very suited for these multi-layered
materials.
Specific challenges:
Films with multiple layers made of different
polymers are typically difficult to separate.
This creates an issue at the recycling stage, as
polymer types used for the different layers are
not always compatible. The interaction of filling
goods (food) with the multi-layer packaging
containers often results in contamination of
the polymers. Additionally, these articles often
contain pigments, functional fillers, silicon layers
or adhesive materials, which make the recycling
even more difficult, as the different polymers
and additives need to be separated before the
recycling output can be used again, especially for
food and medical applications.
Technology Readiness Level
Activities are currently at TRL 3 and shall achieve
TRL 6 at the end of the project.
Expected Impact:
Demonstrate a potential reduction in
landfill waste volume by > 50%. Create new
technologies and business opportunities
for the recycling industry across Europe,
especially in the area of plastics where the
challenge is high. Reduce the environmental
footprint associated with the end-of-life
phase of packaging products by at least 30 %
compared with existing products for similar
applications.
4.5. Mechanical recycling
Scope:
The most promising combination for enhanced
mechanical recycling is a) a thorough pre-sorting,
combined with analytics/quality control, followed
by b) removal of unwanted by products (such as
volatile organics and/or certain halogen-organic
compounds). The latter stage (a de-volatilization
of a recycling polymer melt) recently led to
successful FDA approval of recycled-PE by using a
degassing process of EREMA. In order to achieve
the re-introduction of cross-linked polymers that
cannot be reprocessed under normal conditions,
stable reagents for high temperature processing
by twin-screw extruders/compounding can
be developed. New mechanical methods to
break the chemical bonds by using twin screw
extruders with the combination of high shear
SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY • 39
and high energy sources (radiations) offer a good
potential. New chemical compounds to enhance
this process can be added in combination
with physical methods. New mixers based on
extensional flow (specific reactor) to improve
dispersion and distribution quality for a wide
range of viscosity ratio and to avoid thermal
degradation are needed. Fibre functionalisation
and reactive compatibilization extrusion/
pultrusion are relevant techniques as well as the
reactive extrusion process to improve adhesion
between the recycled fibre and polymer matrix
(compatibilization). Additives can protect the
polymers subjected to these processes. For
smart mechanical recycling, a virgin polymer
and/or chain repair agent can be fed to improve
the quality of the recyclate. The development
of mechanical recycling technologies to
accommodate bio-based plastics is also required.
Specific Challenges:
Even with highly precise selection and sorting
methods, polymer streams will often consist of a
mix of different grades of polymers. Mechanical
recycling allows the production of decently
clean and defined materials without chemical
treatment. The recyclate quality is affected
by feedstock quality variations and polymer
degradation. This lowers the value of the recycled
products in many cases. Through smart recycling
technologies this can be overcome. This is
done through intelligent process monitoring
and control. Mechanical recycling of ABS is
very close to TRL 9 as for recent examples22.
polystyrene recyclate in demanding applications,
eventually in food contact. On the other hand,
mechanical recyclability of FRP articles is difficult,
showing usually low yield (particularly for the
matrix). Besides, the fibres are significantly
degraded, resulting in secondary uses in lower
value applications after each lifecycle
Technology Readiness Level
Activities shall achieve TRL 7-9 by 2030.
Expected Impact:
Improve the industrial productivity, reliability,
environmental performance, durability, and
reduction of life-cycle costs of these materials
Demonstrate a potential reduction in
landfill waste volume. At least 15% improved
industrial process parameters and 20% faster
verification of materials performance for
highly promising applications.
5. Post-processing
Specific Challenges:
After recycling, polymeric materials can still
contain contamination residues of either
molecular or elemental nature. This is especially
true for the recycling of polymer articles that
have been manufactured under older norms
7

using additives that subsequently have been

Mechanical Recycling of PS has a TRL of 9. Due prohibited or restricted or face future prohibition/
to polystyrene’s low diffusion properties, purity restriction. Polymers face limits on the number of
levels >99% of the polystyrene recyclate can be times they may be recycled without decreasing
achieved. These enable the use of the high purity

22 Recent examples of high quality mechanical recycled ABS grades

Terluran® ECO GP-22 MR50 and Terluran® ECO GP-22 MR70, which
contain 50 and 70 percent of recycled post-consumer waste from
electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), respectively. The product
properties of these recycled ABS grades are well within the property
profile of the virgin ABS Terluran

40 • SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY

properties, e.g. clarity, strength, etc., further
work is required to extend the number of
times they can be subsequently recycled as
feedstock for the production of new polymers
when mechanical recycling is no longer feasible.
The challenges for the decontamination of the
recycled polymers are in particular: a) the smelly
components. Undesirable smells hinder the use
of i. e. rHDPE in many applications and they can
also cause odour pollution in the production
process; b) the short chain fragments (oligomers)
as increase in short chain fragments i. e. in a PE
matrix affect the flow index of the polymer, one
of the critical parameters for the use of a recycled
polyolefin and c) the additives and their potential
degradation products with different chemical
structure embedded in the polymer matrix
which need to be removed.
as well as reactive compatibilization processes by
twin screw extruders can also be contemplated.
Technology Readiness Level
Activities are currently at TRL 5 and shall achieve
TRL 7 at the end of the project
Expected Impact:
Create new technologies and business
opportunities for the recycling industry
across Europe. Reduce the environmental
footprint associated with the end-of-life
phase of developed products by at least 30%
compared with existing products for similar
applications.

Scope:
Developing an EFSA or FDA approved technology
to decontaminate polyolefins (PE-LD/PE-LLD;
PE-HD/PE-MD - Flexible Film (Blown or cast)
in order to recover the food contact status
after treatment similar to those existing for
PET. New, versatile, conformable and low-cost
processing technologies to prevent the release
of contaminants through barriers/encapsulation
(the exact development may be polymer
specific). Identifying or optimise modifiers or
compatibilizers and proving these additives to
minimise degradation of polymer during the
recycling steps. Property enhancers as impact
modifiers, compatibilizers and coupling agents
could also be contemplated to enhance the
properties of recyclates. Development of specific
compatibilizers with high number of active sites

SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY • 41

Alternative Feedstock

This section covers the innovation on plastics Challenges:

based on alternative sustainable feedstocks,
Forest residues represent an abundant and
coming from waste/residues of biomass origin,
potentially sustainable source of biomass, which
industrial gases. There is a need to provide
could be used as a feedstock for a biomass to
methodology and data to be useful to build a
chemicals, fuels and materials in future, The C6
common baseline to estimate environmental
and C5 sugars can be converted into chemical
impact of alternative feedstock and their
intermediates. Lignin, if properly converted, can
outcomes compared to standard feedstock.
serve as a source of renewable aromatic building
This should include short, mid and long-
blocks. Also, ligno-cellulosic biomass in general
term evaluation with economic impact for
can be converted to thermoplastic materials by
producers, suppliers, users. This baseline would
chemical and/or enzyme treatments. Materials
be as a support to investments’ decisions and
in which natural fibres are combined with bio-
should include the European Securities and
based thermoplastic matrix, such as Sulapac,
Markets Authority (ESMA) sustainable finance
can provide sustainable bio-based solutions
deliverables23. For degradable polymers, it is vital
to certain applications, e.g. in the area of
1

to understand which conditions are required,

packaging. Major challenges are associated with
how long it takes, and which breakdown
conversion inefficiencies for this bio-mass-to-
products they leave behind, but current
product approach. The main specific challenge
standards and test methods cannot predict
for biomass conversion into aromatics BTX
breakdown in complex natural environments24.
(Benzene, Toluene, Xylene) is finding the optimal
In addition, adequate collection and sorting
feedstock and process to maximise yield in order
facilities need to be established.
to get a cost-efficient process

1. Agricultural and forest
biomass waste based raw
materials
Side streams of both agricultural and forest
feedstock are a good source of feedstock for bio-
based polymers.
23 https://www.esma.europa.eu/policy-activities/sustainable-finance
24 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.171792
Scope:
In the area of C6 sugars conversion, catalytic
process can achieve higher yields and better
selectivity during the conversion of sugar from
agricultural sources to industrial feedstock for
renewable polymer production. Specifically,
furan dicarbocylic acid (FDCA) as a monomer
for polyethylene furanoate (PEF) to replace
fossil PET and muconic acid as a monomer for
biobased polyamides are promising leads. It is
important to establish proper recycling routes
for these new bio-based polymers. Cellulose
can be esterified to produce thermoplastic.
Technologies like Integrated Cascading Catalytic

43 • SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY

Pyrolysis (ICCP) can be used to produce building
blocks for ABS, PS, PET, PO. Development of
the suitable additives and process so that these
bio-based polymers are commercially viable
options. Another possibility are the wood-plastic
composites that can be used for construction
applications such as decking or cladding.
Technology Readiness Level
From TRL 5 to TRL 9 in 5 years.
Specific Challenges:
High-energy demand of enzymatic processes.
Lignin, hemicellulose, cellulose, polymers
are available in large volumes and do not
interfere with food applications. However, they
exhibit high structural complexity (composite
structures, higher O/C ratios, at the same time
low densities) currently resulting in high-
energy demand for manufacturing them in a
biomass-to-product strategy. Major challenges
are associated with conversion inefficiencies.
Development of the suitable additives and
process so that these bio-based polymers are
commercially viable options. Discrepancy of
mixed feedstock and specifically active enzymes.
Agricultural and forest waste streams are very
often mixtures of different bio-based products. In
contrast most of the enzymes used are specific
to certain polymer groups.
Scope:
Fundamental research is necessary to find
highly active and selective catalysts, high-yield
fermentation processes, and atom-economic
metabolic reaction pathways in order to increase
the overall process efficiencies. A chemical
approach is the use of bio-based feedstock with
a given specification in traditional, established
processes and assets. This mass allocation of
biomaterials into a fossil-based cracker feed
creates a mixture of hydrocarbons that are
partly of plant origin instead of being 100% fossil.
An advantage of this technology is the use of
existing assets reducing necessary investment
cost and manufacturing costs compared
to fermentative down-stream technologies.
Also, the derived products have the same
performance
Technology Readiness Level
TRL 3 to 7 in 5 years.
2. CO2/CO-based
This section covers technologies able to convert
CO2 and or CO into polymers or building blocks
which can in turn be converted into polymers.
Specific Challenges:
The capture CO2 as feedstock is yet uneconomic
for applications in commodity plastics since
the costs of CO2 capture are too high. New
technologies and upscaling and optimisation
of state-of-the-art CO2 capture technologies is
needed to bring these costs down, as well as
optimisation of the processes that convert the
CO2 into plastics. Transforming CO2 via several
pathways into usable building blocks to produce
various types of polymers is required.
SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY • 44
Scope:
Industrial gases need to be captured in order
to be used as feedstock and sometimes can
be used directly if the CO2 content is high
enough. For capture, a strong area of innovation
is the development of membranes or solid
sorbents for CO2 separation, for example
solvent free processes or porous dimension
optimisation. For conversion of CO2 to base
chemicals, improved catalytic systems need
to be developed both with respect to catalyst
composition and shape. With the direct
conversion of CO2, polycarbonate-etherols
(polyol) for polyurethanes, Poly(propylene)
carbonate or polyesters can be developed.
CO2-derived (poly)-olefins, PS, PMMA can be
made through different pathways. CO2-derived
vinyl monomers can derive into many different
polymers. Polymers from CO2-derived non-
olefinic intermediates for example PTHF or PU
without isocyanate can also be developed.

Technology Readiness Level

Activities are currently at TRL 5 and shall achieve
TRL 7 at the end of the project.

45 • SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY

SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY • 46
At date July 2020 the following organisations are signatories of the CPA:

A+C Plastic Kunststoff GmbH: ABN PIPE SYSTEMS; AGORIA; Agriculture Products Europe (APE
Europe); AIMPLAS; Alliance Plasturgie et Composites du Futur (Plastalliance); ALPLA Werke Alwin
Lehner GmbH & Co K; Ampacet Europe S.A.; ANL Packaging; APIP - Associação Portuguesa da
Indústria de Plásticos; APK AG; Aquafil S.p.A.; Arla Foods; Armacell Benelux SCS; ARMANDO ALVAREZ
GROUP; Asociación Española de Industriales de Plásticos (ANAIP); Aspla s.a.; Associação das Empresas
Portuguesas para o Sector do Ambiente (AEPSA); Associação Smart Waste Portugal; Association of
Chemical Industries of Slovenia at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia; Association
of Cities and Regions for Sustainable Resource Management (ACR+); AST Kunststoffverarbeitung
GmbH; AST Plastic Containers UK LLP; AST Plastic Packaging Benelux bvba; Aurora Kunststoffe
GmbH; Avery Dennison; BANDESUR; BASF; BERICAP Holding GmbH; Berry Global Group, Inc;
Berry RPC Verpackungen Kutenholz GmbH; Borealis; C.M.G. SpA; CAPEC - CAJAS Y PALETS EN
UNA ECONOMIA CIRCULAR; CEFLEX, A Circular Economy for Flexible Packaging; CEN-CENELEC;
Chemical Recycling Europe; Chevron Phillips Chemicals International NV; CICLOPLAST; Circular
Economy Research Center, Ecole des Ponts Business School; Cirplus; Citeo; Cobelplast NV; Coca Cola
in Europe; COEXPAN; Comité Français des Plastiques en Agriculture; Coop Italy; Coopbox Group;
Copa and Cogeca; Covestro; CROCCO SpA; CYRKL waste2resource marketplace; Danone; Dart
Products Europe; Deceuninck NV; Der Grüne Punkt- DSD Duales System Holding GmbH & Co. KG;
Digital Europe; DION S.A.; Dutch federation rubber and plastic industry, NRK; Eco Baltia group Ltd;
ECODOM; Ecoiberia S.A.; EDANA; Electric SRL; Elipso; EMSUR; EREMA Group GmbH; ERGIS S.A.;
Essenscia; Essentra Components; EURECAT; Eurocommerce; Eurocord AiSBL; EUROMAP - European
Plastics and Rubber Machinery; EuroMouldings BV; European Association of Automotive Suppliers
(CLEPA); European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA); European Brands Association
(AIM); European Carpet and Rug Association (ECRA); European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC);
European Composites Industry Association (EUCIA); European Composites, Plastics and Polymer
Processing Platform (ECP4); European Federation of Bottled Waters (EFBW); European Federation
of Waste Management and Environmental Services (FEAD); European Manufacturers of Expanded
Polystyrene (EUMEPS); European Organisation for Packaging and the Environment (EUROPEN);
European Plastic Pipes and Fittings Association (TEPPFA); European Plastics Converters (EuPC);
European Plastics Recycling Organisations (EPRO); European PVC Profiles and Related Building
Products Association (EPPA-profiles); European Recycling Industries’ Confederation (EuRIC);
European Resilient Flooring Manufacturers’ Institute (ERFMI); European Snacks Association (ESA);
Evertis Ibérica, S.A.; ExcelRise; Extended Producer Responsibility Alliance (EXPRA); FAMA PLAST
SRL; FCIO - Association of the Austrian Chemical Industry; FECC; Fédération de la Plasturgie et des
Composites (FED-Plasturgie); Federation of Reinforced Plastics (AVK); Fernholz GmbH & Co.KG;
Ferrero; Flexible Packaging Europe; FoodDrink Europe; Fördergemeinschaft für das Süddeutsche

47 • SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY

Kunststoff-Zentrum e.V.; Formteile - Ben Neudel GmbH; Fuerst GmbH; GCR GROUP; Gesamtverband
Kunststoffverarbeitende Industrie e. V. (GKV); GKV/TecPart - Verband Technische Kunststoff-Produkte
e.V.; GREEN PLASTURGIE; Greiner Packaging International; Groupe Barbier; Groupe Guillin; Gruppo
Fabbri Vignola SpA; GSK Consumer Healthcare; Henkel AG & Co. KG; Home Appliance Europe
(APPLIA); Ibacplast, s.l.; IFFPG; IKEM – Innovation and Chemical Industries in Sweden; Incoplas;
INDESLA PACKAGING, SL; Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen e.V. (IK); Infiana Germany
GmbH & Co. KG; International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products (AISE);
INTRAPLAS - Indústria Transformadora de Plásticos, S.A.; ipa-plast KG; Italian Plastics and Rubber
Processing Machinery and Moulds Manufacturers Association (AMAPLAST); IVK Europe; IVL Swedish
Environmental Research Institute; Joh. Sieben GmbH; Jokey SE; KIMIDE e.K. Resource & Waste
Management; KISICO GmbH; Klöckner Pentaplast – KP Films; Komunala Kranj d.o.o.; Kurtz Holding
GmbH & Co. Beteiligungs KG; LATI Industria Termoplastici S.p.A; Leygatech; Lightweight Containers;
Liveo Research GmbH; L’Oréal; MAAG GmbH; MACPAC SA; Madreperla spa; Magyar Márkaszövetség
(Branded Goods Association Hungary); Mars; Menshen Group; MEPOL S.R.L.; Mixer Spa; MKV GmbH
Kunststoffgranulate; MOL Group; Mondelēz International; MULTIVAC Sepp Haggenmüller SE &
Co. KG; Municipal Waste Europe (MWE); MURAPLAST d.o.o.; Nestlé; Norwich Plastics; OIKOKIKLIOS
S.A.; OneCircle; Online Laminating & Technology Center GmbH & Co KG; Orgalim; Orkla ASA; PEKU
Folien GmbH; Pepsico; Petcore Europe; PET-Verpackungen GmbH; pielleitalia; PIEP-Polo Inovação
Engenharia de Polímeros; Plasta d.o.o.; PLASTIC SENSE FOUNDATION; Plastics Europe; Plastics
Recyclers Europe (PRE); PLASTIGAUR S.A.; PLASTIKA KRITIS SA; Plastika Skaza d.o.o.; Plastikourgeio;
Plastipolis; Plastship GmbH; Polyolefins Circular Economy Platform (PCEP); Pöppelmann Holding
GmbH & Co. KG; Portugal; PREMATÉCNICA S.A.; Pro Form Kft.; Producer Responsibility Organisations
Packaging Alliance (PROsPA); Recticel; Reifenhäuser GmbH & Co. KG Maschinenfabrik; REMONDIS
Recycling; RENOLIT SE; RETAL; Ribawood, S.A; RKW SE; ROBOPLAST S.R.L.; Schwarz Gruppe; Serioplast
Global Services S.p.A.; Seufert Transparente Verpackungen GmbH; Siemens AG; Silver Plastics GmbH
& Co. KG; Simap Srl; SINTAC RECYCLING; SIRAP GEMA SPA; SiriusPro GmbH; SKYTECH SAS; Soft Drinks
Europe (UNESDA); Stabilplastik; Stelioplast Roland Stengel Kunststoffverarbeitung; Styrenics Circular
Solutions (SCS); Südpack Verpackungen GmbH & Co.KG; SULAYR GLOBAL SERVICE; Sund Holding;
Tama Group; Texplast GmbH; The Compost Bag Company nv; Thees Plastic Recycling; Thrace Group;
TNO; TOMRA; TRIA S.p.A.; Trioplast Industrier AB; UAB Putoksnis; Unilever; Unionplast - Federazione
Gomma Plastica; Valencian Plastics Companies Association (AVEP); Verpa Folie Weidhausen; Versalis
SpA; Vinylplus; VTT; WEEE Forum; Wellplast AB.

SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY • 48

Glossary
ABS-HIPS Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene –
High Impact polystyrene
ABS-SAN Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene –
Styrene acrylonitrile
AI Artificial intelligence
BrFR Brominated flame retardants
BTX Benzene, Toluene Xylene
CLT Cross-linked thermosets
CO2 Carbon dioxide
CVD Chemical vapour deposition
DCPD Polydicyclopentadiene
DEHP Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate
EFSA European Food Standards
Agency
EPS Expanded polystyrene
FDA (US) Food and Drug Administration
FRP Fibre reinforced polymer
HBCD Hexabromocyclododecane
ICCP Integrated Cascading Catalytic
Pyrolysis
LCA Life Cycle Assessment
LCC Life Cycle Costs
LIBS Laser-Induced Breakdown
Spectroscopy
MIR-T Mid Infrared Thermography
MPW Mixed post-consumer waste
NIR Near infrared
PA Polyamide (aka Nylon)
PA6/PA66 Nylon 6 / Nylon 66
Pb Lead
PBS/PBSA Polybutylene Succinate /
Polybutylene Succinate Adipate
PBT Polybutylene terephthalate (also
PTMT)
PC Polycarbonate
PE Polyethyene
PE-HD Polyethyene - high density
PE-LD Polyethyene – low density
PE-LLD Polyethyene - linear low density
PE-MD Polyethyene - medium density
Glossary
49 • SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY
PEC Polyester carbonate
PEF Polyethylene Furanoate
PET Polyethylene terephthalate
PHA/PHB Polyhydroxyalkanoates /
Polyhydroxybutyrate
PLA Polylactic acid
PMMA Polymethyl methacrylate
PO Polyolefin
POM Polyoxymethylene
PP Polypropylene
PPC Polypropylene carbonate
PS Polystyrene
PT Polythiophene
PTFE Polytetrafluoroethylene
PTHF Polytetrahydrofuran
PU/PUR Polyurethane
PVC Polyvinyl chloride
PVD Physical vapour deposition
SIRA Strategic Innovation and
Research Agenda
TBS Tracer based sorting
TPS Toughened polystyrene
TRL Technology readiness level
TS FRP Thermoset Fibre reinforced
polymer
UV Ultraviolet
VIS Visible
WEEE Waste from electrical and
electronic equipment
XRF X-ray fluorescence
XRT X-ray transmission
About the partners

SusChem is the European Technology Platform for Sustainable

Chemistry. It is a forum that brings together industry, academia, policy
makers and the wider society. SusChem was officially launched in
2004 as a European Commission supported initiative to revitalise and
inspire European chemistry and industrial biotechnology research,
development and innovation in a sustainable way.
www.suschem.org

The European Chemical Industry Council - Cefic is a committed

partner to EU policymakers, facilitating dialogue with industry and
sharing broad-based expertise. Cefic represents large, medium and
small chemical companies across Europe, which directly provide
1.2 million jobs and account for 14.7% of world chemical production.
Based in Brussels since its founding in 1972, Cefic interacts on behalf of
its members with international and EU institutions, non-governmental
organisations, the international media, and other stakeholders.
www.cefic.org

PlasticsEurope is a leading European trade association with centres in

Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Milan and Paris. The association
networks with European and national plastics associations and has
more than 100 member companies that produce over 90% of all
polymers across the EU28 member states plus Norway, Switzerland
and Turkey.
www.plasticseurope.org

European Plastics Converters (EuPC) is the EU-level trade association,

based in Brussels, representing more than 50 000 companies in
Europe, which produce over 50 million tonnes of plastic products
every
year. Plastics converters (sometimes called «Processors») are the heart
of the plastics industry. They manufacture plastics semi-finished
and finished products for an extremely wide range of industrial
and consumer markets - the automotive electrical and electronic,
packaging, construction and healthcare industries, to name but a few.
www.plasticsconverters.eu

The European Composites, Plastics and Polymer Processing

Platform (ECP4) is an industry-driven collaboration that unites
25 members from 13 countries amongst the top-level European
research institutions, regional plastic clusters, and EU-level industrial
organisations of plastics and composites converters. ECP4 brings
innovation partners together to identify opportunities for collaborative
research.
www.ecp4.eu

SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY • 50

About SusChem

SusChem is the European Technology Platform At SusChem we believe that sustainable

for Sustainable Chemistry. It is a forum that
brings together industry, academia, policy
makers and the wider society.
SusChem’s vision is for a competitive and
innovative Europe where sustainable chemistry
and biotechnology together provide solutions for
future generations.
SusChem’s mission is to initiate and inspire
European chemical and biochemical innovation
to respond effectively to societal’s challenges by
providing sustainable solutions.
chemistry can inspire a change of pace and the
new mind-set that society needs in order to
become (more) sustainable, smart and inclusive.
In partnership with European and national public
authorities, SusChem contributes to initiatives
that aim to provide sustainable solutions to
society’s big challenges. Together we develop
and lead large-scale, integrated research and
innovation programmes with chemical sciences
at their core. These public private initiatives link
research and partners along the value chain
to real world markets through accelerated
innovations.

SusChem across Europe

SusChem has established a network of National
Technology Platforms (NTPs) in 17 countries
across Europe: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece,
Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia,
Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, and United
Kingdom.
NTPs help to connect SusChem thinking with
national and regional programmes. It also
facilitates transnational collaboration and advice
SusChem at the European level on collective
national priorities that need to be considered in
European initiatives.

Credits

Images:
Anders Jacobsen - Unsplash.com
David Hackett - Unsplash.com
Jonathan Chng - Unsplash.com
Oleksiy Mark - Shutterstock
Extarz - Shutterstock
lzf - Shutterstock

Copyright © 2020 SusChem. All rights reserved.

Version 2.0

51 • SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY

SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS STRATEGY • 52
SusChem Secretariat
—
Address Contact us

The European Technology Platform T +32.2.436.94.18

for Sustainable Chemistry E suschem@suschem.org
Rue Belliard 40 www.suschem.org
@SusChem
1040 Brussels